WCDMA transmit architecture

ABSTRACT

Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) transmit architecture. A baseband digital processing module operates cooperatively with an analog signal processing module to effectuate highly adjustable and highly accurate gain adjustment in accordance with transmitter processing within a communication device. The gain adjustment and/or gain control is partitioned between the digital and analog domains by employing two cooperatively operating digital and analog modules, respectively. Gain adjustment in the analog domain is performed in a relatively more coarse fashion that in the digital domain. If desired, gain adjustment in each of the analog and digital domains is performed across a range of discrete steps. The discrete steps in the analog domain are larger than the discrete steps in the digital domain. Also, the discrete steps in the digital domain may be interposed between two successive discrete steps in the analog domain.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS/PATENT APPLICATIONS ProvisionalPriority Claims

The present U.S. Utility Patent Application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. §119(e) to the following U.S. Provisional Patent Applicationwhich is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety andmade part of the present U.S. Utility Patent Application for allpurposes:

1. U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/042,611, entitled “WCDMAtransmit architecture,” filed Apr. 4, 2008, pending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to communication systems; and, moreparticularly, it relates to transmitter modules implemented withincommunication devices employed within such communication systems.

2. Description of Related Art

Communication systems are known to support wireless and wire linedcommunications between wireless and/or wire lined communication devices.Such communication systems range from national and/or internationalcellular telephone systems to the Internet to point-to-point in-homewireless networks. Each type of communication system is constructed, andhence operates, in accordance with one or more communication standards.For instance, wireless communication systems may operate in accordancewith one or more standards including, but not limited to, IEEE 802.11,Bluetooth, advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, globalsystem for mobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access(CDMA), local multi-point distribution systems (LMDS),multi-channel-multi-point distribution systems (MMDS), radio frequencyidentification (RFID), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE),General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), and/or variations thereof.

Depending on the type of wireless communication system, a wirelesscommunication device, such as a cellular telephone, two-way radio,personal digital assistant (PDA), personal computer (PC), laptopcomputer, home entertainment equipment, RFID reader, RFID tag, etcetera, communicates directly or indirectly with other wirelesscommunication devices. For direct communications (also known aspoint-to-point communications), the participating wireless communicationdevices tune their receivers and transmitters to the same channel orchannels (e.g., one of the plurality of radio frequency (RF) carriers ofthe wireless communication system or a particular RF frequency for somesystems) and communicate over that channel(s). For indirect wirelesscommunications, each wireless communication device communicates directlywith an associated base station (e.g., for cellular services) and/or anassociated access point (e.g., for an in-home or in-building wirelessnetwork) via an assigned channel. To complete a communication connectionbetween the wireless communication devices, the associated base stationsand/or associated access points communicate with each other directly,via a system controller, via the public switch telephone network, viathe Internet, and/or via some other wide area network.

For each wireless communication device to participate in wirelesscommunications, it includes a built-in radio transceiver (i.e., receiverand transmitter) or is coupled to an associated radio transceiver (e.g.,a station for in-home and/or in-building wireless communicationnetworks, RF modem, etc.). As is known, the receiver is coupled to anantenna and includes a low noise amplifier, one or more intermediatefrequency stages, a filtering stage, and a data recovery stage. The lownoise amplifier receives inbound RF signals via the antenna andamplifies them. The one or more intermediate frequency stages mix theamplified RF signals with one or more local oscillations to convert theamplified RF signal into baseband signals or intermediate frequency (IF)signals. The filtering stage filters the baseband signals or the IFsignals to attenuate unwanted out of band signals to produce filteredsignals. The data recovery stage recovers raw data from the filteredsignals in accordance with the particular wireless communicationstandard.

As is also known, the transmitter includes a data modulation stage, oneor more intermediate frequency stages, and a power amplifier. The datamodulation stage converts raw data into baseband signals in accordancewith a particular wireless communication standard. The one or moreintermediate frequency stages mix the baseband signals with one or morelocal oscillations to produce RF signals. The power amplifier amplifiesthe RF signals prior to transmission via an antenna.

While transmitters generally include a data modulation stage, one ormore IF stages, and a power amplifier, the particular implementation ofthese elements is dependent upon the data modulation scheme of thestandard being supported by the transceiver. For example, if thebaseband modulation scheme is Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK), thedata modulation stage functions to convert digital words into quadraturemodulation symbols, which have a constant amplitude and varying phases.The IF stage includes a phase locked loop (PLL) that generates anoscillation at a desired RF frequency, which is modulated based on thevarying phases produced by the data modulation stage. The phasemodulated RF signal is then amplified by the power amplifier inaccordance with a transmit power level setting to produce a phasemodulated RF signal.

As another example, if the data modulation scheme is 8-PSK (phase shiftkeying), the data modulation stage functions to convert digital wordsinto symbols having varying amplitudes and varying phases. The IF stageincludes a phase locked loop (PLL) that generates an oscillation at adesired RF frequency, which is modulated based on the varying phasesproduced by the data modulation stage. The phase modulated RF signal isthen amplified by the power amplifier in accordance with the varyingamplitudes to produce a phase and amplitude modulated RF signal.

As yet another example, if the data modulation scheme is x-QAM (16, 64,128, 256 quadrature amplitude modulation), the data modulation stagefunctions to convert digital words into Cartesian coordinate symbols(e.g., having an in-phase signal component and a quadrature signalcomponent). The IF stage includes mixers that mix the in-phase signalcomponent with an in-phase local oscillation and mix the quadraturesignal component with a quadrature local oscillation to produce twomixed signals. The mixed signals are summed together and filtered(optionally) to produce an RF signal that is subsequently amplified by apower amplifier.

As the desire for wireless communication devices to support multiplestandards continues, recent trends include the desire to integrate morefunctions on to a single chip. However, such desires have goneunrealized when it comes to implementing baseband and RF on the samechip for multiple wireless communication standards. In addition, manycomponents and/or modules within the components employed within suchcommunication devices and wireless communication devices include manyoff-chip elements.

Within the transmitter portions of typical prior art devices, the gainadjustment of a signal that is ultimately transmitted (e.g., a radiofrequency (RF) output signal) is typically performed exclusively withinthe analog domain. The control of any analog gain associated componentsis also typically performed exclusively within the analog domain withinprior art communication devices. Oftentimes, this incurs the need forone or more analog transmit RF filter modules to perform the appropriatefiltering within this prior art, analog architecture. A more complexand/or congested analog architecture typically and inherently results ina noisier analog cell within a communication device and/or integratedcircuit. For example, in typical prior art architectures that arerelatively more complex in nature, the use of one or more analogtransmit RF filter modules, among other possible additional modules, maybe needed to compensate for the relatively increased noise intrinsic tosuch prior art, complex and/or congested analog architectures.

In addition, because of the nature of such an analog architecture, suchtransmitters suffer from poor gain stability over temperature, process,and/or power supply variations. This prior art approach makes it verydifficult to implement any transmitter design that is not susceptible tothese deleterious effects. Also, the very nature of such prior artapproaches has a high sensitivity to noise. Also, in some prior artembodiments, there may be no power savings within such a prior artcommunication device when it operates with relatively lower output powerlevels. Moreover, given the inherently coupled nature of componentswithin such prior art analog architectures, there can be greatdifficulty in the independent adjustment of components therein. Settingany gain value with a relatively high degree of accuracy can bevirtually impossible within such prior art architectures. As a result,the transmit signal accuracy of such prior art architectures sufferssignificantly from in-phase/quadrature (I, Q) gain and phase errors.

There exists a need in the art for a means by which better transmitterarchitectures may be implemented within communication devices (includingwireless communication devices).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of operationthat are further described in the following Brief Description of theSeveral Views of the Drawings, the Detailed Description of theInvention, and the claims. Other features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof the invention made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system including a wireless communication device thatincludes a baseband digital processing module and an analog signalprocessing module.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an apparatus thatincludes a baseband digital processing module and an analog signalprocessing module.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of coarse and fine gainadjustment being performed in the analog and digital domains.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of transmitter module, ascan be implemented within a communication device, that includes digitaland analog sections operating cooperatively to generate at least oneoutput signal.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method for operatinga communication device that includes a baseband digital processingmodule and an analog signal processing module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A novel architecture and means is presented herein by which gainadjustment and/or control within a transmitter of a communication deviceis partitioned between the digital and analog domains by employing twocooperatively operating digital and analog modules, respectively. Thetransmitter may be implemented using a complementarymetal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) process. The digital section thereofaccepts a digital input signal (e.g., an information bit/sequence) andproduces an analog output signal (e.g., a radio frequency (RF) outputsignal) capable to be transmitted from the communication device via acommunication channel. The analog section thereof accepts the I, Qsignal (e.g., the digital signal generated from within the digitalsection) and produces the analog output signal in accordance with aselected protocol and band pair.

For example, such a communication device implemented in accordance withcertain aspects of the invention can be a multi-protocol and multi-bandcapable communication device that operates in accordance with a firstprotocol and band pair during a first time and in accordance with asecond protocol and band pair during a second time. For example, whenoperating in accordance with the first protocol and band pair, theanalog signal generated by the communication device has a firstfrequency, and when operating in accordance with the second protocol andband pair, the analog signal generated by the communication device has asecond frequency.

In one embodiment, such an apparatus implemented in accordance withcertain aspects of the invention includes a baseband digital processingmodule that operates cooperatively with an analog signal processingmodule to effectuate highly adjustable and highly accurate gainadjustment in accordance with transmitter processing within acommunication device.

The gain control for such a transmitter module may be performed entirelyin the digital domain. Gain adjustment in the analog domain is performedin a relatively more coarse fashion than in the digital domain. Ifdesired, gain adjustment in each of the analog and digital domains isperformed across a range of discrete steps. The discrete steps in theanalog domain are larger than the discrete steps in the digital domain.Also, the discrete steps in the digital domain may be interposed betweentwo successive discrete steps in the analog domain.

This all digital gain control design and coarse/fine gain adjustment inthe analog/digital domains provides for an architecture that isrelatively much more stable than prior art designs over a wide range oftemperature, process, and/or power supply variations. This also providesfor a much easier to calibrate architecture than prior art approaches.Moreover, this novel architecture and means presented herein also allowsfor independent adjustment of linearity and output noise.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system 100. The wireless communication system 100 includesa plurality of base stations and/or access points 112, 116, a pluralityof wireless communication devices 118-132 and a network hardwarecomponent 134. Note that the network hardware 134, which may be arouter, switch, bridge, modem, system controller, et cetera, provides awide area network connection 142 for the communication system 100.Further note that the wireless communication devices 118-132 may belaptop host computers 118 and 126, personal digital assistant hosts 120and 130, personal computer hosts 124 and 132 and/or cellular telephonehosts 122 and 128.

Wireless communication devices 122, 123, and 124 are located within anindependent basic service set (IBSS) area and communicate directly(i.e., point to point). In this configuration, these devices 122, 123,and 124 may only communicate with each other. To communicate with otherwireless communication devices within the system 100 or to communicateoutside of the system 100, the devices 122, 123, and/or 124 need toaffiliate with one of the base stations or access points 112 or 116.

The base stations or access points 112, 116 are located within basicservice set (BSS) areas 111 and 113, respectively, and are operablycoupled to the network hardware 134 via local area network connections136, 138. Such a connection provides the base station or access point112-116 with connectivity to other devices within the system 100 andprovides connectivity to other networks via the WAN connection 142. Tocommunicate with the wireless communication devices within its BSS 111or 113, each of the base stations or access points 112-116 has anassociated antenna or antenna array. For instance, base station oraccess point 112 wirelessly communicates with wireless communicationdevices 118 and 120 while base station or access point 116 wirelesslycommunicates with wireless communication devices 126-132. Typically, thewireless communication devices register with a particular base stationor access point 112, 116 to receive services from the communicationsystem 100.

Typically, base stations are used for cellular telephone systems (e.g.,advanced mobile phone services (AMPS), digital AMPS, global system formobile communications (GSM), code division multiple access (CDMA), localmulti-point distribution systems (LMDS), multi-channel-multi-pointdistribution systems (MMDS), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution(EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), high-speed downlink packetaccess (HSDPA), high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA and/or variationsthereof) and like-type systems, while access points are used for in-homeor in-building wireless networks (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, ZigBee,any other type of radio frequency based network protocol and/orvariations thereof). Regardless of the particular type of communicationsystem, each wireless communication device includes a built-in radioand/or is coupled to a radio.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wirelesscommunication device 200 that includes the host device 118-132 and anassociated radio 260. For cellular telephone hosts, the radio 260 is abuilt-in component. For personal digital assistants hosts, laptop hosts,and/or personal computer hosts, the radio 260 may be built-in or anexternally coupled component.

As illustrated, the host device 118-132 includes a processing module250, memory 252, a radio interface 254, an input interface 258, and anoutput interface 256. The processing module 250 and memory 252 executethe corresponding instructions that are typically done by the hostdevice. For example, for a cellular telephone host device, theprocessing module 250 performs the corresponding communication functionsin accordance with a particular cellular telephone standard.

The radio interface 254 allows data to be received from and sent to theradio 260. For data received from the radio 260 (e.g., inbound data),the radio interface 254 provides the data to the processing module 250for further processing and/or routing to the output interface 256. Theoutput interface 256 provides connectivity to an output display devicesuch as a display, monitor, speakers, et cetera, such that the receiveddata may be displayed. The radio interface 254 also provides data fromthe processing module 250 to the radio 260. The processing module 250may receive the outbound data from an input device such as a keyboard,keypad, microphone, et cetera, via the input interface 258 or generatethe data itself. For data received via the input interface 258, theprocessing module 250 may perform a corresponding host function on thedata and/or route it to the radio 260 via the radio interface 254.

Radio 260 includes a host interface 262, digital receiver processingmodule 264, an analog-to-digital converter 266, a high pass and low passfilter module 268, an IF mixing down conversion stage 270, a receiverfilter 271, a low noise amplifier 272, a transmitter/receiver switch273, a local oscillation module 274, memory 275, a digital transmitterprocessing module 276, a digital-to-analog converter 278, afiltering/gain module 280, an IF mixing up conversion stage 282, a poweramplifier 284, a transmitter filter module 285, a channel bandwidthadjust module 287, and an antenna 286. The antenna 286 may be a singleantenna that is shared by the transmit and receive paths as regulated bythe Tx/Rx switch 273, or may include separate antennas for the transmitpath and receive path. The antenna implementation will depend on theparticular standard to which the wireless communication device 200 iscompliant.

The digital receiver processing module 264 and the digital transmitterprocessing module 276, in combination with operational instructionsstored in memory 275, execute digital receiver functions and digitaltransmitter functions, respectively. The digital receiver functionsinclude, but are not limited to, digital intermediate frequency tobaseband conversion, demodulation, constellation demapping, decoding,and/or descrambling. The digital transmitter functions include, but arenot limited to, scrambling, encoding, constellation mapping, modulation,and/or digital baseband to IF conversion. The digital receiver andtransmitter processing modules 264 and 276 may be implemented using ashared processing device, individual processing devices, or a pluralityof processing devices. Such a processing device may be a microprocessor,micro-controller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, centralprocessing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logicdevice, state machine, logic circuitry, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals (analog and/ordigital) based on operational instructions. The memory 275 may be asingle memory device or a plurality of memory devices. Such a memorydevice may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory,non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, and/orany device that stores digital information. Note that when theprocessing module 264 and/or 276 implements one or more of its functionsvia a state machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logiccircuitry, the memory storing the corresponding operational instructionsis embedded with the circuitry comprising the state machine, analogcircuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry.

In operation, the radio 260 receives outbound data 294 from the hostdevice via the host interface 262. The host interface 262 routes theoutbound data 294 to the digital transmitter processing module 276,which processes the outbound data 294 in accordance with a particularwireless communication standard (e.g., IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, ZigBee,any other type of radio frequency based network protocol and/orvariations thereof et cetera) to produce outbound baseband signals 296.The outbound baseband signals 296 will be digital base-band signals(e.g., have a zero IF) or digital low IF signals, where the low IFtypically will be in the frequency range of one hundred kHz (kilo-Hertz)to a few MHz (Mega-Hertz).

The digital-to-analog converter 278 converts the outbound basebandsignals 296 from the digital domain to the analog domain. Thefiltering/gain module 280 filters and/or adjusts the gain of the analogsignals prior to providing it to the IF mixing stage 282. The IF mixingstage 282 converts the analog baseband or low IF signals into RF signalsbased on a transmitter local oscillation 283 provided by localoscillation module 274. The power amplifier 284 amplifies the RF signalsto produce outbound RF signals 298, which are filtered by thetransmitter filter module 285. The antenna 286 transmits the outbound RFsignals 298 to a targeted device such as a base station, an access pointand/or another wireless communication device 200.

The radio 260 also receives inbound RF signals 288 via the antenna 286,which were transmitted by a base station, an access point, or anotherwireless communication device. The antenna 286 provides the inbound RFsignals 288 to the receiver filter module 271 via the Tx/Rx switch 273,where the Rx filter 271 bandpass filters the inbound RF signals 288. TheRx filter 271 provides the filtered RF signals to low noise amplifier272, which amplifies the signals 288 to produce an amplified inbound RFsignals. The low noise amplifier 272 provides the amplified inbound RFsignals to the IF mixing module 270, which directly converts theamplified inbound RF signals into an inbound low IF signals or basebandsignals based on a receiver local oscillation 281 provided by localoscillation module 274. The down conversion module 270 provides theinbound low IF signals or baseband signals to the filtering/gain module268. The high pass and low pass filter module 268 filters, based onsettings provided by the channel bandwidth adjust module 287, theinbound low IF signals or the inbound baseband signals to producefiltered inbound signals.

The analog-to-digital converter 266 converts the filtered inboundsignals from the analog domain to the digital domain to produce inboundbaseband signals 290, where the inbound baseband signals 290 will bedigital base-band signals or digital low IF signals, where the low IFtypically will be in the frequency range of one hundred kHz to a fewMHz. The digital receiver processing module 264, based on settingsprovided by the channel bandwidth adjust module 287, decodes,descrambles, demaps, and/or demodulates the inbound baseband signals 290to recapture inbound data 292 in accordance with the particular wirelesscommunication standard being implemented by radio 260. The hostinterface 262 provides the recaptured inbound data 292 to the hostdevice 118-132 via the radio interface 254.

As one of average skill in the art will appreciate, the wirelesscommunication device 200 of FIG. 2 may be implemented using one or moreintegrated circuits. For example, the host device may be implemented onone integrated circuit, the digital receiver processing module 264, thedigital transmitter processing module 276 and memory 275 may beimplemented on a second integrated circuit, and the remaining componentsof the radio 260, less the antenna 286, may be implemented on a thirdintegrated circuit. As an alternate example, the radio 260 may beimplemented on a single integrated circuit. As yet another example, theprocessing module 250 of the host device and the digital receiver andtransmitter processing modules 264 and 276 may be a common processingdevice implemented on a single integrated circuit. Further, the memory252 and memory 275 may be implemented on a single integrated circuitand/or on the same integrated circuit as the common processing modulesof processing module 250 and the digital receiver and transmitterprocessing module 264 and 276.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an alternative embodiment of a wirelesscommunication system 300 including a wireless communication device 310 athat includes a baseband digital processing module 340 and an analogsignal processing module 350.

The wireless communication device 310 a can communicate via a wirelesscommunication channel 399 to a communication network and/or one or moreother communication devices. The wireless communication device 310 aincludes transmitter module 330 for generating an output analog signal(e.g., an radio frequency (RF) output signal) that can be transmittedvia a communication channel.

The baseband digital processing module 340 and the analog signalprocessing module 350 may be implemented within an integrated circuit310 (or alternatively within more than one integrated circuit) withinthe wireless communication device 310 a.

A digital input signal which may be viewed as an information bitstream/sequence is provided to the baseband digital processing module340. The baseband digital processing module 340 generates a digitalsignal (e.g., I, Q components thereof) and passes this digital signal tothe analog signal processing module 350 from which an output analogsignal is output (e.g., an RF output signal). In addition, thetransmitter module 330 employs all digital gain control, in that, anyanalog components within the analog signal processing module 350 may beadjusted/configured based on a digital control signal provided by thebaseband digital processing module 340.

While gain adjustment and/or gain control is described with reference tomany of the embodiments described herein, it is also noted thatadditional operations including filtering and/or frequency conversionmay be performed cooperatively using the baseband digital processingmodule 340 and the analog signal processing module 350.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of an apparatus 400 thatincludes a baseband digital processing module and an analog signalprocessing module. In this embodiment, a digital input signal which maybe viewed as an information bit stream/sequence is provided to abaseband digital processing module 440. The baseband digital processingmodule 440 generates a digital signal (e.g., I, Q components thereof)and passes this digital signal to an analog signal processing module 350from which an output analog signal is output (e.g., an RF outputsignal).

In addition, this apparatus 400 employs all digital gain control, inthat, any analog components within the analog signal processing module450 may be adjusted/configured based on a digital control signalprovided by the baseband digital processing module 440.

The baseband digital processing module 440 is capable to perform any oneor more of digital gain adjustment 441, digital filtering 442, digitalfrequency conversion 443, and/or any other digital processing 444 on theinformation bit stream/sequence. It is noted that the digital processingperformed herein includes actually modifying digital data values of theinformation bit stream/sequence received by the baseband digitalprocessing module 440.

The analog signal processing module 450 is capable to perform any one ormore of analog gain adjustment 451, analog filtering 452, analogfrequency conversion 453, and/or any other analog processing 454 on thereceived digital signal (after converting it to an analog signal withinthe analog signal processing module 450 (e.g., using a digital to analogconverter (DAC) or other means).

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment 500 of coarse and finegain adjustment being performed in the analog and digital domains. Ascan be seen relatively coarse gain adjustment is performed usingrelatively larger steps in the analog domain. In between the coarsegains steps, relatively finer gain adjustment is performed usingrelatively smaller steps in the digital domain.

In some embodiments, the digital gain adjustment is performed betweentwo successive coarse gain steps using the digital gain adjustment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of transmitter module600, as can be implemented within a communication device, that includesdigital and analog sections operating cooperatively to generate at leastone output signal. The transmitter modules includes a transmit (TX)filter (e.g., which may be implemented as a root-raised cosine (RRC)filter in desired embodiments, but may generally be implemented usingany desired type of filter) and baseband digital processing module. TheTX filter and baseband digital processing module is capable to adjustdigital values of a received digital signal to effectuate digital gainadjustment, filtering, and/or frequency conversion. The TX filter andbaseband digital processing module can also include an integrateddigital RF 3G module to effectuate.

There are a wide variety of communication system contexts in which thistransmitter module 600 of this embodiment, or any other embodimentdepicted herein, may be implemented including those that operate inaccordance with different protocols and/or bands. Some examples ofvarious RATs (Radio Access Technologies) include Global System forMobile Communications (GSM), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution(EDGE), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband-Code DivisionMultiple Access (W-CDMA), UTRA-UTRAN Long Term Evolution (LTE), WiMAX(Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), WiFi/WLAN (WirelessLocal Area Network), ZigBee, Bluetooth, Ultra-Wide Band (UWB), and/orother types and variations thereof.

A digital signal is output from the TX digital filter and basebanddigital processing module. This digital signal is provided to twoseparate digital to analog converters (DACs) from which analog signalsare output there from. After passing through two analog filters, thesesignals are then passed appropriately to mixer/modulators, whosefrequency conversion is controlled by the outputs of respective dividermodules (shown as div2), that are themselves controlled by a TX voltagecontrolled oscillator (VCO) that operates to provide a desired frequencysignal (e.g., shown as 4 GHz in this embodiment, but which may be anydesired frequency). Each respective mixer/modulator provides an Icomponent of a Q component that is output and provided to acorresponding balun. A selected gain module, of a number of gainmodules, then outputs a respective analog output signal. These signalsare shown as analog output signal #1, analog output signal #2, andanalog output signal #3. Each of these as analog output signals can havedifferent properties and be in compliance with a different protocol andband pair (e.g., those any one of those described above).

A corresponding envelope detector is implemented to monitor each of theoutput analog signal and provide such monitored information to the TXfilter and baseband digital processing module. It is noted that thismonitoring may be performed in any number of ways, including (1) in realtime, (2) during production testing, or (3) during the powering-up ofthe device and/or integrated circuit that includes the transmittermodule 600, among other ways.

Based on this monitored information provided to the TX filter andbaseband digital processing module, the TX filter and baseband digitalprocessing module can modify the data values of any digital signalprocessed therein. In addition, the TX filter and baseband digitalprocessing module can provide any one or more digital control signals toadjust any operational parameter of any power amplifier (PA), gainmodule, mixer/modulator, filter, and/or DAC implemented within thetransmitter module 600. That is to say, one or more of the variouscomponents within the transmitter module 600 areadjustable/configurable.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a method 700 foroperating a communication device that includes a baseband digitalprocessing module and an analog signal processing module. It is notedthat the analog signal processing module can include one of morecomponents that are adjustable/configurable.

Within the baseband digital processing module, the method 700 operatesby processing at least one information bit thereby generating a digitalsignal, as shown in a block 710. Within the baseband digital processingmodule, the method 700 operates performing at least one of first gainadjustment, first filtering, and first frequency conversion of thedigital signal, as shown in a block 720. Within the baseband digitalprocessing module, the method 700 operates producing a digital controlsignal, as shown in a block 730.

Within the analog signal processing module, the method 700 operates byperforming at least one of second gain adjustment, second filtering, andsecond frequency conversion of the analog signal, as shown in a block750. Within the analog signal processing module, the method 700 operatesby performing envelope detection of the analog signal to detect at leastone characteristic of the analog signal, as shown in a block 760.

Within the analog signal processing module, the method 700 operates byadjusting at least one analog processing component within the pluralityof analog processing components based on the digital control signal, asshown in a block 770.

Within the baseband digital processing module of the integrated circuit,based on the at least one signal characteristic of the analog signal,the method 700 also involves changing at least one digital data value ofa plurality of digital data values of the digital signal, as shown in ablock 780.

It is noted that the various modules (e.g., baseband processing modules,transmitter modules, etc.) described herein may be a single processingdevice or a plurality of processing devices. Such a processing devicemay be a microprocessor, micro-controller, digital signal processor,microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array,programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuitry, analogcircuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulates signals(analog and/or digital) based on operational instructions. Theoperational instructions may be stored in a memory. The memory may be asingle memory device or a plurality of memory devices. Such a memorydevice may be a read-only memory, random access memory, volatile memory,non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, and/orany device that stores digital information. It is also noted that whenthe processing module implements one or more of its functions via astate machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logiccircuitry, the memory storing the corresponding operational instructionsis embedded with the circuitry comprising the state machine, analogcircuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logic circuitry. In such anembodiment, a memory stores, and a processing module coupled theretoexecutes, operational instructions corresponding to at least some of thesteps and/or functions illustrated and/or described herein.

The present invention has also been described above with the aid ofmethod steps illustrating the performance of specified functions andrelationships thereof. The boundaries and sequence of these functionalbuilding blocks and method steps have been arbitrarily defined hereinfor convenience of description. Alternate boundaries and sequences canbe defined so long as the specified functions and relationships areappropriately performed. Any such alternate boundaries or sequences arethus within the scope and spirit of the claimed invention.

The present invention has been described above with the aid offunctional building blocks illustrating the performance of certainsignificant functions. The boundaries of these functional buildingblocks have been arbitrarily defined for convenience of description.Alternate boundaries could be defined as long as the certain significantfunctions are appropriately performed. Similarly, flow diagram blocksmay also have been arbitrarily defined herein to illustrate certainsignificant functionality. To the extent used, the flow diagram blockboundaries and sequence could have been defined otherwise and stillperform the certain significant functionality. Such alternatedefinitions of both functional building blocks and flow diagram blocksand sequences are thus within the scope and spirit of the claimedinvention.

One of average skill in the art will also recognize that the functionalbuilding blocks, and other illustrative blocks, modules and componentsherein, can be implemented as illustrated or by discrete components,application specific integrated circuits, processors executingappropriate software and the like or any combination thereof.

Moreover, although described in detail for purposes of clarity andunderstanding by way of the aforementioned embodiments, the presentinvention is not limited to such embodiments. It will be obvious to oneof average skill in the art that various changes and modifications maybe practiced within the spirit and scope of the invention, as limitedonly by the scope of the appended claims.

1. An apparatus, comprising: a baseband digital processing moduleimplemented to: process at least one information bit thereby generatinga digital signal; perform at least one of first gain adjustment, firstfiltering, and first frequency conversion of the digital signal; andproduce a digital control signal; and an analog signal processingmodule, that includes a plurality of analog processing components,implemented to: convert the digital signal to an analog signal; andperform at least one of second gain adjustment, second filtering, andsecond frequency conversion of the analog signal; and wherein: at leastone analog processing component within the plurality of analogprocessing components is adjusted based on the digital control signal.2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the first gain adjustment isrelatively finer gain adjustment than the second gain adjustment.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein: the baseband digital processing moduleperforms the first gain adjustment across a first range using firstgains steps having a first size; the analog signal processing moduleperforms the second gain adjustment across a second range using secondgains steps having a second size; the first range is in between twoconsecutive steps of the second range; and the first gain steps arerelatively finer gain steps than the second gain steps.
 4. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein: the plurality of analog processing componentsincludes an envelope detector implemented to detect at least onecharacteristic of the analog signal; and the envelope detector generatesthe digital control signal based on at least one signal characteristicof the analog signal.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the digitalsignal is a first digital signal generated by the baseband digitalprocessing module during a first time; the baseband digital processingmodule generates a second digital signal during a second time; thesecond digital signal includes a plurality of digital data values; theplurality of analog processing components includes an envelope detectorimplemented to detect at least one characteristic of the analog signal;based on the at least one signal characteristic of the analog signal,the baseband digital processing module changes at least one digital datavalue of the plurality of digital data values of the second digitalsignal.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the digital signalincludes a plurality of digital data values; and the baseband digitalprocessing module changes at least one digital data value of theplurality of digital data values to perform the at least one of firstgain adjustment, first filtering, and first frequency conversion of thedigital signal.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the apparatus is amulti-protocol and multi-band capable communication device that operatesin accordance with a first protocol and band pair during a first timeand in accordance with a second protocol and band pair during a secondtime; the analog signal is a first analog signal; when operating inaccordance with the first protocol and band pair, the first analogsignal generated by the analog signal processing module has a firstfrequency; and when operating in accordance with the second protocol andband pair, a second analog signal generated by the analog signalprocessing module has a second frequency.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein: the analog signal is a first analog signal generated by theanalog signal processing module during a first time; the digital controlsignal is a first digital control signal generated by the basebanddigital processing module during a first time; at least one analogprocessing component within the plurality of analog processingcomponents is adjusted based on the first digital control signal duringthe first time; the baseband digital processing module generates asecond digital control signal during a second time; and at least oneanalog processing component within the plurality of analog processingcomponents is adjusted based on the second digital control signal duringthe second time.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the apparatus isan integrated circuit.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: theplurality of analog processing includes at least one of a poweramplifier (PA), a mixer/modulator, an analog filter, and a digital toanalog converter (DAC).
 11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: theapparatus is a wireless communication device.
 12. An integrated circuit,comprising: a baseband digital processing module implemented to: processa first information bit thereby generating a first digital signal;perform at least one of first gain adjustment, first filtering, andfirst frequency conversion of the first digital signal; and produce afirst digital control signal; and an analog signal processing module,that includes a plurality of analog processing components, implementedto: convert the first digital signal to a first analog signal; andperform at least one of second gain adjustment, second filtering, andsecond frequency conversion of the first analog signal; and wherein: theplurality of analog processing components includes an envelope detectorimplemented to detect at least one characteristic of the first analogsignal; the envelope detector generates a second digital control signalbased on the at least one signal characteristic of the first analogsignal; the baseband digital processing module processes a secondinformation bit thereby generating a second digital signal; the seconddigital signal includes a plurality of digital data values; based on theat least one signal characteristic of the first analog signal, thebaseband digital processing module changes at least one digital datavalue of the plurality of digital data values of the second digitalsignal; the analog signal processing module converts the second digitalsignal to a second analog signal; and at least one analog processingcomponent within the plurality of analog processing components isadjusted based on at least one of the first digital control signal andthe second digital control signal.
 13. The integrated circuit of claim12, wherein: the first gain adjustment is relatively finer gainadjustment than the second gain adjustment.
 14. The integrated circuitof claim 12, wherein: the baseband digital processing module performsthe first gain adjustment across a first range using first gains stepshaving a first size; the analog signal processing module performs thesecond gain adjustment across a second range using second gains stepshaving a second size; the first range is in between two consecutivesteps of the second range; and the first gain steps are relatively finergain steps than the second gain steps.
 15. The integrated circuit ofclaim 12, wherein: the integrated circuit is implemented within amulti-protocol and multi-band capable communication device that operatesin accordance with a first protocol and band pair during a first timeand in accordance with a second protocol and band pair during a secondtime; when operating in accordance with the first protocol and bandpair, at least one of the first analog signal and the second analogsignal generated by the analog signal processing module has a firstfrequency; and when operating in accordance with the second protocol andband pair, at least one of the first analog signal and the second analogsignal generated by the analog signal processing module has a secondfrequency.
 16. The integrated circuit of claim 12, wherein: theintegrated circuit is implemented within a wireless communicationdevice; and the plurality of analog processing includes at least one ofa power amplifier (PA), a mixer/modulator, an analog filter, and adigital to analog converter (DAC).
 17. A method, comprising: within abaseband digital processing module of an integrated circuit: processingat least one information bit thereby generating a digital signal;performing at least one of first gain adjustment, first filtering, andfirst frequency conversion of the digital signal; and producing adigital control signal; within an analog signal processing module, thatincludes a plurality of analog processing components, of the integratedcircuit: converting the digital signal to an analog signal; performingat least one of second gain adjustment, second filtering, and secondfrequency conversion of the analog signal; performing envelope detectionof the analog signal to detect at least one characteristic of the analogsignal; and adjusting at least one analog processing component withinthe plurality of analog processing components based on the digitalcontrol signal; and within the baseband digital processing module of theintegrated circuit, based on the at least one signal characteristic ofthe analog signal, changing at least one digital data value of aplurality of digital data values of the digital signal.
 18. The methodof claim 17, further comprising: performing the first gain adjustmentacross a first range using first gains steps having a first size;performing the second gain adjustment across a second range using secondgains steps having a second size; and wherein: the first range is inbetween two consecutive steps of the second range; and the first gainsteps are relatively finer gain steps than the second gain steps. 19.The method of claim 17, wherein: the integrated circuit is implementedwithin a multi-protocol and multi-band capable communication device thatoperates in accordance with a first protocol and band pair during afirst time and in accordance with a second protocol and band pair duringa second time; when operating in accordance with the first protocol andband pair, the analog signal generated within the analog signalprocessing module has a first frequency; and when operating inaccordance with the second protocol and band pair, the analog signalgenerated within the analog signal processing module has a secondfrequency.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein: the integrated circuitis implemented within a wireless communication device; and the pluralityof analog processing includes at least one of a power amplifier (PA), amixer/modulator, an analog filter, and a digital to analog converter(DAC).